PHL agencies map strategy to recover wealth linked to flood control scandal

THE Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) convened key government agencies on Thursday to coordinate efforts to recover public funds lost to anomalous infrastructure projects, marking a major step in the Marcos administration’s anti-corruption drive.

- By Erika Mae P. Sinaking

“The purpose of our meeting today is to finalize the framework for inter-agency coordination, information sharing and legal procedures related to the recovery of public funds and assets from irregular infrastructure projects,” ICI Chairman Andres B. Reyes, Jr. said at the meeting.

Officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Department of Justice, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Office of the Ombudsman and National Bureau of Investigation joined the technical working group session.

Mr. Reyes said the group would establish operational guidelines and timelines to support national asset recovery and accountability initiatives. He noted that every peso stolen is a peso taken away from public service.

Assistant Ombudsman Jose Dominic Clavano IV said the government would invoke Republic Act No. 1379 or the Forfeiture Law to pursue civil cases against officials with unexplained wealth.

“When there’s a disproportion between the amount declared in the SALN and the actual wealth that you see in a lifestyle check, then you can forfeit whatever is over and excessive,” he told reporters. “That’s what we will use to enforce action against the assets.”